Helena weekly herald. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1867-1900, 1887-08-25

and new portion Of the globe. A voyage
to Greenland. or TO Africa, or China, could not
effect more complete Transformation. It's a
pity, also, that 100000 persons cannot enter
this marvellous place each year, instead OF
the 1900 or 5000 who now visit it. There are
improvements to be made too, and for this
purpose government should purchase the cav
ern and fit it for the reception Of the multi
tude. The present owners are half dozen
heirs of one Jessup The estate is managed for
them by an agent. The earnings are no more
than $40, 900 year, and out of this guides and
their expenses must be paid. There is nothing
left with which to make anything more than
the imperative repairs. Pullman, the sleeping
car magnate once made an effort to buy the
cave, but the property is under court control,
and cannot be sold until some of the heirs be-
come of age.
There is but one entrance to the cave
Others could doubtless be found by earnest
search from within, but the owners take good
care that no such search shall be made. They
forbid the use of surveying instruments in
the cavern and discourage exploration. Dis
covery of another entrance might break the
monopoly which they now hold upon this
matches natural curiosity, though oprotect
their possession they have purchased several
thousand acres of land, presumably covering
the cave Title to real estate, it appears, carries
ones fee to the center of the earth, and IL by
the use of surveying instruments some neigh
boring farmer could establish the fact that
portions of the cave are under his land, he
would have a legal right to a share of the
tolls collected from sightseers.
This greatest of holes in the ground has 200
miles of explored avenues and passages. How
much farther it extends no one knows, but it
is probable that earnest efforts would extend
the hundreds into thousands. This whole
country side is filed with caves In this
(Edmundson) county alone two hundred
have been discovered. Some of these
caves are nearly as large and quite
as beautiful as Mammoth cave, but the repu
tation of the giant overshadows them ell, and
no one thinks Of visiting any of the lesser
marvels Doubtless many or all of these
caverns are connected by hidden passages,
though it is a matter Of neighborhood gossip
that certain avenues have been closed by the
Mammoth cave manager and explorers ex-
cluded from them, presumably through fear
of unwelcome discoveries. The proprietors
of Mammoth cave value their underground
CITY at $3.50, 900, and it could be readily sold
for that sum.
Mammoth cave has never been popular
resort Hitherto it has been exceedingly
difficult of access. The railroad ran no
nearer than ten miles and the stage ride was
over rough country, making 1t both tedious
and EXPENSIVE Before the war southern
planters came here in large numbers, and
sought relief from summers heat III the
bowels of the earth. Everything here is
essentially southern. The landlord at the
hotel is anything but successful Boniface,
while his wife is beauty, too proud to visit
the kitchen. The cooks are without accom-
plishments, and never gained as much as an
inkling of the proper method of brolling a
steak or brewing coffee. They do know, how
ever, how to serve pie and hot biscuit for
breakfast The hotel itself is southern. 1t is
merely series of log or rough frame sheds,
built one after another in the form of an l.,
facing a pretty park. The main portion
of the house was built as long ago as
1918. and in the big ball room over the dining
hall Henry Clay and Andrew jackson danced
in their youth The old inn is picturesque if
not comfortable; and each arriving guest on
making the inevitable query, "Where is the
caveg' is told that section OF the great
cavern is right underneath him as he sits
struggling with piece of Texas steer, fried
The stage coach has at last disappeared, and
a new railroad runs almost to the very mouth
of the cavern 1t is a crooked railway, run
ming I'D hill and down and around hills, with
grades which make observing passengers
dizzy and locomotives tired. One engine can
pull but couple of cars, and then often at
snaiTs pace. This ride alone is worth the
price of admission, especially if you stand on
the platform behind colored native and have
the interesting objects pointed out to you.
One-half the farmers along here, this volu-
BILE black man will tell you, have caves on
- they are too lazy to ex-